Thursday, April 19

NICOLE ATKINS

AMG calls New York City singer-songwriterNICOLE ATKINS a mix of ROY ORBISON, LORETTA LYNN, and JENNY LEWIS. Well, gee. Couldn't they raise their expectations just a LITTLE bit?

I'd also throw a dash of NELLIE McKAY into that melting pot. And if you've ever wondered what MAMA CASS would sound like covering a SHIRLEY BASSEY James Bond theme (and who HASN'T?), then just give a listen to Atkins' sultry and soaring "The Way It Is" [below].

That song will appear on her debut full-length, NEPTUNE CITY (named for her New Jersey hometown), which will be available June 26 on COLUMBIA. In the meantime, you can delve into her distinctive brand of country-cabaret on her 2006 EP BLEEDING DIAMONDS by purchasing the bloody thing at INSOUND, iTUNES, or any number of other on- and off-line retailers.